Friday 5 December 2014

Outdoor Play Party - Winter fun!

Welcome to another Outdoor Play Party, it is so hard to believe it's December & there are only a few weeks left of 2014, time really does seem to go faster & faster every year!
I have just under 2 weeks left of first term & it is incredible how the class has become one big group & enjoys exploring our outdoor spaces & enjoying having a fire in the playground.
So far this year we had just made hot chocolate on the fire but last week we got round to toasting marshmallows & plan to make some toast this week. The children were all brilliant about not touching the fire but loved getting the chance to toast their own marshmallows. I then found some giant ones in a local supermarket so we will have to try toasting them in the New Year!
We had been on trips off site to our partner school for 2 weeks so hadn't been up to visit Bear Woods until this Wednesday & the children were so excited to be getting back to explore this little space. It really never ceases to amaze me how much they love this space & I was able to give a presentation recently to other teachers about making the most of unused spaces within school grounds & it really brought home to me how much the nursery class has gained from this little slope of land being developed just for us. A few weeks ago Mrs Carson & I had taken part in a willow den building morning at An Creagán, after all the support that Peter their biodiversity officer has given to the school we felt like giving something back to An Creagán & gaining some new skills. It was lots of fun & we managed to bring some smaller willow sticks & Mrs Carson built a little mini den up in Bear Woods. The children enjoyed sitting in here reading books this week.
Every year I like to let the children decorate the small bush in the middle of the playground with coloured baubles - it always looks so effective when decorated & cheers the playground up on gloomy, winter mornings.



My favourite post from the last Outdoor Play Party was from Cuddles & Muddles & Muddy Puddles, this post showed how children can be entertained for a long time with a few simple natural resources - sticks, puddles & mud.
"Now it’s time for this week’s Outdoor Play Party. We would appreciate it if you included a link back to this post (either in your post or sidebar) to help us spread the word about the importance (and fun!) of outdoor play! In return, we’ll gladly further share your post on Pinterest. Please feel free to grab the Outdoor Play Party button from the sidebar and/or include a text link back. Please note that by contributing you are giving permission for an image and link to your post to be republished if featured.(If you have been featured, please feel free to grab the ‘featured at’ button from the sidebar.) Share your ideas for outdoor play activities with us every other week!"



9 comments:

  1. What a fantastic looking play space. The bauble hanging is fab! Admiring your fire too !

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    1. Thanks, it has been a real work in progress over the past 8 years. I love the fire too, I had coveted it for many years before our generous Board of Governors gave each teacher money for 'wish list' items, this of course was my first item on the list!

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  2. Marshmallows are my kids' favorite too! It's so neat that you're able to cook something outside every week and I bet the kids just love it. Love the outdoor Christmas decorations too!

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    1. It has become such a ritual for the children, they were so disappointed last week when we had to postpone.

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  3. Love the bauble effects! Congrats on being shortlisted too! : ) All the Best!

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    1. Thanks & your support is much appreciated too xx

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  4. Thanks for the mention :) We had to do some pretend play camping last week, including 'roasting' marshmallows - I think ToddlerGirl would be in heaven toasting them for real!

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    1. Any time! There is nothing as tasty as a toasted marshmallow!

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  5. I love your Christmas baubles. So lovely x

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